
The CFO Show
With today's increasingly challenging business conditions, finance leaders are taking on more responsibilities and facing more change than ever. Join Vena’s CFO Melissa Howatson for The CFO Show, a biweekly podcast featuring interviews with forward-thinking finance and business leaders. Get timely commentary on today’s biggest issues in business, hear from finance leaders on how their work is transforming their organizations and get practical advice for ushering your finance team into the future. The CFO Show isn’t just a podcast; it’s your forecast for the future of finance.
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Latest episodes

Oct 17, 2023 • 23min
The CFO's Path to the CEO's Office
Every career path is unique. For many CFOs, though, their paths share a common destination: the CEO’s office. What does the journey from CFO to CEO look like?This transition requires more than mastering the balance sheets. Being a CEO demands a unique blend of strategic vision, leadership finesse, and a fearless appetite for risk. To give us a firsthand perspective of this shift, host Melissa Howatson welcomes Lincoln Greenidge, CEO of Sandfire Resources America Inc. Lincoln, who’s spent 35 years climbing the ranks of finance and FP&A across six industries, shares the opportunities and challenges that arose as part of his transition from CFO to CEO.Join us as we discuss:The new skills CFOs need to succeed as CEOUnforeseen challenges that new CEOs should watch out forHow leadership styles evolve in your new roleSpecific areas of development CFOs should focus onAdditional resources:How To Get on the Finance Leadership Track: 5 Pieces of Advice for Future CFOs: https://bit.ly/3Zygl287 Principles of the Agile Finance Leader | 0.5 CPE | Vena Academy: https://bit.ly/3rqyanh

Oct 10, 2023 • 30min
5 FP&A Trends That Have Defined 2023
2023 has been a year defined by uncertainty. This trend is a driving force behind the decision making of FP&A teams, as they aim to create more agile and dynamic operations in the face of constant change. But uncertainty is only one FP&A trend that’s shaped the past year.Howard Dresner, Founder and Chief Research Officer of Dresner Advisory Services, suggests there are five major FP&A trends that have defined 2023 and point to what lies ahead in 2024. In this episode, Howard dives into these trends with hosts Melissa Howatson and Tom Seegmiller.Join us as we discuss:How to achieve efficiency goals in the face of economic uncertainty The appropriate strategy for human capital investmentsESG reporting and planning taking on added significanceThe importance of rolling forecasts in a volatile geopolitical climateBeing dynamic enough to operate given supply chain challengesAdditional resources:The 8 FP&A Trends Making Waves in 2023: https://bit.ly/3RA4EGf

Oct 3, 2023 • 14min
2024 Annual Budget Planning
2023 was a roller coaster for finance professionals, and with a potential recession looming, the storms don’t look to calm down anytime soon. This means annual budget planning takes on an added importance as they look ahead to 2024.Melissa Howatson and Tom Seegmiller discuss the issues that should be top of mind for CFOs and reinforce the importance of scenario planning. Harjot Ghai, Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Delbridge Solutions, Inc., shares his best practices for planning ahead in uncertain times.Join us as we discuss:Projections and expectations for the economy in 2024Actions that companies should take now to prepareHow leaders can create an environment of stability and trustWays to balance financial constraints with talent retentionAdditional resources:The Ultimate Guide to Corporate Budgeting: https://bit.ly/3PP8OZN

Sep 26, 2023 • 29min
Better Business Partners: Finance and the Office of the CIO
There’s an underrated skill that seasoned CFOs have mastered: forging partnerships with other C-suites across the organization. One of the most vital partners for finance teams is the Office of the Chief Information Officer (CIO). Together, these teams can drive efficiency with technology, mitigate risks, and make strategic investments.To understand what a successful business partnership with the Office of CIO looks like—and what factors often get in the way—Melissa Howatson talks with Johan Dowdy, Global Head of IT and IT Security at Asana. Join us as we discuss:How IT has evolved over the years to be more strategicThe value of listening before offering suggestions (not just prescribing)One of the most common pain points in the CFO-CIO partnershipConsidering ROI and long-term payback on all programmatic spendHow to achieve smoother operations and more accurate reportingAdditional resources:How To Develop a Finance Business Partnering Model: https://bit.ly/46joolCTransforming Finance as a Strategic Business Partner | 0.5 CPE/CPD Course:https://bit.ly/467s5vk

Sep 19, 2023 • 19min
Driving Finance Innovation with AI
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is reshaping the finance industry, empowering CFOs and finance teams to drive innovation and adapt to new market conditions with speed and efficiency. But for as widely discussed and debated as AI has been recently, best practices for adoption are hard to come by.To assist those looking to jumpstart their digital transformation efforts with AI, Melissa Howatson sits down to talk with Rob Drover, VP Business Solutions at CBIZ (formerly Marcum Technology, part of Marcum LLP Group). From his extensive firsthand knowledge, Rob shares how to leverage technology to streamline finance processes and boost strategic decision-making.Discussed in This Episode:What digital transformation really means (and what’s impeding its progress)Practical applications of AI to create more time for value-added tasksThe need for continuous improvement in addition to regular AI auditsEnsuring your AI model is approved by people who know your businessHow workers who invest in upskilling will stand outResources:The Definitive Guide to AI in FP&A: Benefits, Use Cases and Risks Explained: For CFO insights, episode show notes, and exclusive blog content, visit thecfoshowpodcast.com.